"Regarding Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano's most recent statement, I stand by my July 2014 memo to Bishop Lee Piche. I welcome a thorough accounting of the matter." Father Daniel Griffith, August 28, 2018.

Pope Francis has responded to new reports of clerical sexual abuse and the ecclesial cover-up of abuse. In an impassioned letter addressed to the whole People of God, he calls on the Church to be close to victims in solidarity, and to join in acts of prayer and fasting in penance for such "atrocities".

Ralph Strangis, long time member of Our Lady of Lourdes parish and former trustee, passed away Wednesday, August 15th. The Wake will be held at Our Lady of Lourdes on Tuesday, August 21st from 4 til 8 pm. The Funeral Mass will be held at Holy Cross on Wednesday, August 22nd at 10 am. The parish office at Lourdes will be closed at 3 pm Tuesday, and will open again at 1 pm, Wednesday afternoon.

Father Lucio will be with us for the Masses the weekend of August 18th and 19th. He will share more about the important work being done by the Oblates in this mission in Tijuana. A second collection will be taken at these Masses for the mission. Following the 11 am Mass, Father Lucio and some of the young leaders in his team will be joining everyone at the parish picnic at Sts. Cyril and Methodius in Northeast Minneapolis. Everyone is welcome!

Join us for an 11 day pilgrimage to the Holy Land, March 10 - 20, 2019. This pilgrimage will be led by Father Daniel Griffith, Pastor at Our Lady of Lourdes and Dean Robert Vischer, Dean of the University of St. Thomas School of Law. Additional information and registration materials are now available.

Here is a followup interview that aired on the Minnesota Public Radio News with Kerri Miller program on July 3rd. Father Kevin Finnegan from Our Lady of Grace and Julie Craven from Our Lady of Lourdes were interviewed in this segment.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, July 7 at 11 am for Margarite Ann Lichtenauer, the mother of Kristi Tierney. Our prayers and condolences are with Kristi, Patrick and their family. Eternal rest grant unto her O Lord, and may the perpetual light shine upon her.

From the U.S. Council of Catholic Bishops: Pope Francis recently declared that the Monday immediately following Pentecost is to be celebrated as the "Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Mother of the Church." This action emphasizes the central role that Mary and all mothers have in the Church. Keeping in mind the caring role of our Holy Mother, and the crucial place that she has within the life of a family, it is deeply concerning when this relationship is fractured or broken in any fashion.

The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis announced Thursday that it had reached a consensual agreement with victim survivors and insurers definitively resolving bankruptcy claims against the Archdiocese. Fr. Griffith shares more about the announcement in this letter.

The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis has reached a consensual plan with a committee representing clergy sexual abuse survivors to resolve its bankruptcy, offering $210 million for restitution to claimants. The settlement is the largest ever reached in a bankruptcy case related to clergy sex abuse. Coverage of the press conference can be found here.

Our newly married group, Sposi Novelli, will have an event this Saturday at 6 pm with a speaker on an important topic for all married couples, personal finances! Sunday we will celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi and again this year, we will have an outdoor procession of the Holy Eucharist, immediately following the 11 am Mass on Sunday, June 3rd.

Father Griffith shares an update on his reappointment to another term as pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes; the appointment of Fr. David Haschka, S.J. to Our Lady of Lourdes as part time senior associate, and news regarding key staff assignments.

Sunday, May 13, 2018, 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM Please join Father Griffith as we bless our new grotto and celebrate our May Crowning on Mother's Day, May 13th at 10:40 am. There will be treats for kids, and flowers and special blessings for moms! The program begins at 10:15 in the church; at 10:35 we will process to the grotto; and at 10:40, the Blessing of the Grotto and May Crowning will take place.

As Easter was approaching this year, one image kept returning to me in prayer, in my reading and while on retreat: the outstretched hand of God. Scripture abounds with this image of the saving power of God’s hand. The psalms say that God’s right hand will save you from the torrent. In Jeremiah, Deuteronomy, and in Exodus we hear of the strong hand and outstretched arm of God - saving his people. We also see the image of God’s hand in sacred art and theology. Recall Michelangelo’s “Creation of Adam” from the Sistine Chapel. The powerful image of God’s outstretched hand giving life to Adam – giving him the spark of the divine.